Fun for all ages

From left, Jesse Peters, Taylor Seaman and Ben Seaman act out a scene from “This is Where We Came In.”

While the Bear Paw Festival offers plenty of outdoor activities this week, indoor entertainment is going on in Eagle River, too.

There’s still six chances to see the Alaska Fine Arts Academy’s production of “This is Where We Came In.” Alan Ayckbourn’s play follows six “players” who are under the control of three storytellers.

The players are forced to act out reinterpretations of fairy tales, such as “The Frog Prince” and “Hansel and Gretel.” The storytellers erase the players’ memory at the start of each story, so they don’t remember meeting the other players nor do they know their real names.

“They keep making them forget who they are,” director James Jensen said.

The teen cast and familiar stories making it a great production for all ages, Jensen said.

“It’s a good show for kids,” he said.

The play is also full of jokes for adults, said Jensen, who likened the show to movies such as Shrek.

“I like kids movies that have stuff for adults, too,” he said.

As soon as Jensen came across the script, he knew it just what he was looking for.

“When I saw this, I knew I had to do it,” Jensen said. “It will be a fun show.”

The play appealed to Jensen because it allows those portraying the players to play multiple roles. When under the storytellers’ control, the players are often in humorous situations, he said, but in between stories they’re attempting to figure out where and who they are.

“The actors can have fun and be really silly, but also act serious,” Jensen said.

“This is Where We Came In” continues Fridays and Saturdays through July 20 at 7 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays.

Advance tickets are $15 or $13 for seniors, military and children 12 and younger and can be purchased at www.akfinearts.org or by calling AFAA at 694-8909.